The turning point came when Ryan Morrow was harshly penalised for handball, after Michael Carvill's shot bounced up and hit his arm. The referee pointed to the spot, and McElroy coolly converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

It keeps Institute in eighth place, a point behind Glentoran.

Swifts manager Kris Lindsay felt his side deserved to winy.

He added: "We know seventh is still an outside possibility, but all we can do is win our games and put pressure on the teams above us."